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[y2dvd]

Vader wrecking fools was the best thing to come outta this movie. I wanted a movie focusing on Vader, but then I remembered they gave us Ep 1-3 for it.

 

[Rydeen]

Vader wrecking fools was the best thing to come outta this movie. I wanted a movie focusing on Vader, but then I remembered they gave us Ep 1-3 for it.

Eh, Anakin and Vader are the same person, but technically two different things, so Ep 1-3 don't really count. I have a feeling based on the response to this movie's climax, Lucasfilm is probably very interested in doing a Vader side-story set either between Revenge of the Sith and this or between A New Hope and Empire Strikes Back.

 

[Toa TAK]

Disney either needs to pray that Williams can keep on working or let future composers stray from the established Star Wars motifs more.

I disagree. When he did use the motifs it wasn't indulged upon at all and quickly bled back into the score or Giacchino's new themes.

 

[CloudyTuba]

han isn't really all that great in ANH

TESB tho...

https://youtu.be/PzRveOGMflo?t=84

 

[Ghostmaster]

I felt like half the problem was that he strayed from the motifs. His use of instrumentation and using familiar cues but not themes was quite good. Whenever Giacchino indulged in the Imperial March or main Star Wars fanfare it immediately injected some adrenaline back into the movie. His personal riff on the Imperial March was underwhelming.

Hmm, I don't know the whole time I felt like I was listening to Star Warsy music, the likes of which you hear in the Clone Wars cartoon or some of the Star Wars games, you know it kinda sounds like Star Wars but it is also very unremarkable.

Granted, this movie also barely ever lets the music breathe, that is the one thing that JJ did really well in TFA.

I felt like Ray's theme was a much bigger departure from the established themes and motifs than anything in Rogue One.

The worst thing is that I know Giacchino should be able to do better, as he has made some good music in the past, but there is almost nothing here. Maybe he just had a bad time with this one, I felt like his Star Trek OSTs were much better.

I disagree. When he did use the motifs it wasn't indulged upon at all and quickly bled back into the score or Giacchino's new themes.

Oh, I don't mean to say that he used the motifs badly, it's just that as a result, for me personally, there weren't any memorable new themes or tracks on this one. I mean you mention his new themes, but what are they? Does the villain even have the theme in this movie? The only one I can vaguely remember is when the ship is flying over the Jedi statue and the shadow of the Death star is starting to fall back.

 

[Rydeen]

The worst thing is that I know Giacchino should be able to do better, as he has made some good music in the past, but there is almost nothing here. Maybe he just had a bad time with this one, I felt like his Star Trek OSTs were much better.

To be fair, he only had four weeks to work on this, he was a last-minute replacement for Alexandre Desplat, I'm guessing because his rejected score didn't sound enough like Williams. I'm sure if Giacchino was given more time he could've done a much richer score.

 

[BrokenFiction]

Hmm, I don't know the whole time I felt like I was listening to Star Warsy music, the likes of which you hear in the Clone Wars cartoon or some of the Star Wars games, you know it kinda sounds like Star Wars but it is also very unremarkable.

Granted this movie also barely ever lets the music breathe, that is the one thing that JJ did really well in TFA.

I felt like Ray's theme was a much bigger departure from the established themes and motifs than anything in Rogue One.

The worst thing is that I know Giacchino should be able to do better, as he has made some good music in the past, but there is almost nothing here. Maybe he just had a bad time with this one, I felt like his Star Trek OSTs were much better.

I disagree. I'm sitting here listening to "Your Father Would Be Proud" and "Hope" and they are amazing. Especially the former.

 

[Ghostmaster]

To be fair, he only had four weeks to work on this, he was a last-minute replacement for Alexandre Desplat, I'm guessing because his rejected score didn't sound enough like Williams. I'm sure if Giacchino was given more time he could've done a much richer score.

Had no idea about this, that makes a lot more sense.

I disagree. I'm sitting here listening to "Your Father Would Be Proud" and "Hope" and they are amazing. Especially the former.

More power to you man, hopefully at least some of them will grow on me on a repeat.

 

[Prof. Bathtub]

No strong opinions against the movie here, it did what it wanted fairly well. If this is the visual effects standard of the rest of the spinoff/mainline series films (actor simulations nonwithstanding), then Lucasfilm is doing a good job. For those who previously felt disappointed that it wasn't going to be much of a Rogue Squadron-style dogfighting movie, at least the the canyon raid and final battle had the appropriate tone.

Vader basting in his juices may have been a bit much, but I felt the only egregious cameo was by Mr. "Death Sentence" and Walrus Man, and even that is manageable.

 

[notjackbauer]

I would really like to hear the rejected score. I found the score bad to the point of being distracting. It was like jazz scat Star Wars.

 

[CloudyTuba]

To be fair, he only had four weeks to work on this, he was a last-minute replacement for Alexandre Desplat, I'm guessing because his rejected score didn't sound enough like Williams. I'm sure if Giacchino was given more time he could've done a much richer score.

Hey now, back off my man Deplat. The only rumors about Desplat were that there were scheduling issues that forced him to drop out. There's no indication that he ever got as far as composing anything to be rejected. Now youve got three users already believing that there is a rejected score floating around out there based on nothing but tales from my ass (unless there is something new I'm not aware of).

No argument that I think Michael could have done better with more time, though.

 

[watershed]

I would really like to hear the rejected score. I found the score bad to the point of being distracting. It was like jazz scat Star Wars.

I imagine Desplat's score was more of a departure from John Williams' style. I too wish they had went with his score instead of replacing him. I think his score would have been more refreshing than what we got from Giacchino.

Hey now, back off my man Deplat. The only rumors about Desplat were that there were scheduling issues that forced him to drop out. There's no indication that he ever got as far as composing anything to be rejected. Now youve got three users already believing that there is a rejected score floating around out there based on nothing but tales from my ass (unless there is something new I'm not aware of).

No argument that I think Michael could have done better with more time, though.

"Scheduling issues" is Hollywood code word for "there were serious problems that we don't want to discuss publicly." Desplat wrote a score for this film, but we'll never hear it.

 

[CloudyTuba]

"Scheduling issues" is Hollywood code word for "there were serious problems that we don't want to discuss publicly." Desplat wrote a score for this film, but we'll never hear it.

Surely there were things going on behind the scenes that they dont necesarily want the public to know about. That's obvious just comparing the first trailer to the final movie. Keep in mind that "scheduling issues" was the leaked rumor before there was any official comment in the first place.

However jumping from "i wonder what was really going on" to "theres definitely a super secret rejected score for this movie" is a pretty impressive tale from your ass. You should write for tabloids.

 

[watershed]

Surely there were things going on behind the scenes that they dont necesarily want the public to know about. However jumping from "i wonder what was really going on" to "theres definitely a super secret rejected score for this movie" is a pretty impressive tale from your ass.

No there are clear indications that a score was written and rejected. Even Giacchino's interview with I think EW points to it though in a very evasive manner. Music was written and probably mocked-up and rejected. Most likely nothing was ever recorded though.

 

[CloudyTuba]

No there are clear indications that a score was written and rejected. Even Giacchino's interview with I think EW points to it though in a very evasive manner. Music was written and probably mocked-up and rejected. Most likely nothing was ever recorded though.

Show me the facts dude.

 

[Rydeen]

Hey now, back off my man Deplat. The only rumors about Desplat were that there were scheduling issues that forced him to drop out. There's no indication that he ever got as far as composing anything to be rejected. Now youve got three users already believing that there is a rejected score floating around out there based on nothing but tales from my ass (unless there is something new I'm not aware of).

No argument that I think Michael could have done better with more time, though.

Chill, I'm not implying anything about Desplat's talent or score that isn't already common knowledge, here's what Giacchino himself had to say about it to Entertainment Weekly:

Entertainment Weekly: Can you explain why there was a hand-off from Alexandre?
Giacchino: I’ll tell you, I actually don’t know an awful lot about that. [The filmmakers] were like, “Do you want to know what happened?” And my response was, “You know what, when this is all over we can sit and talk and have a drink and you can tell me whatever you want. I’d love to hear the story. But for right now I feel like I’d rather just pretend nothing happened and everything is good and I’m just going to come onto this.” And they were like, “Fair enough, fair enough.” So honestly, I don’t know anything about it other than what was purportedly, you know, “schedule issues.”

Just read between the lines on that.

 

[Aselith]

I would really like to hear the rejected score. I found the score bad to the point of being distracting. It was like jazz scat Star Wars.

Here's a clip they did some call backs to early movies

 

[Toa TAK]

Oh, I don't mean to say that he used the motifs badly, it's just that as a result, for me personally, there weren't any memorable new themes or tracks on this one. I mean you mention his new themes, but what are they? Does the villain even have the theme in this movie? The only one I can vaguely remember is when the ship is flying over the Jedi statue and the shadow of the Death star is starting to fall back.

Jyn, Krennic, and the Guardians have themes.

 

[watershed]

Show me the facts dude.

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/11/23/rogue-one-composer-michael-giacchino-music-star-wars-standalone

Can you explain why there was a hand-off from Alexandre?

I’ll tell you, I actually don’t know an awful lot about that. [The filmmakers] were like, “Do you want to know what happened?” And my response was, “You know what, when this is all over we can sit and talk and have a drink and you can tell me whatever you want. I’d love to hear the story. But for right now I feel like I’d rather just pretend nothing happened and everything is good and I’m just going to come onto this.” And they were like, “Fair enough, fair enough.” So honestly, I don’t know anything about it other than what was purportedly, you know, “schedule issues.”

Wouldn’t it have been useful to figure out what was working – or wasn’t a good fit?

With that amount of time left, I was like, “I don’t want to get wrapped up in any sort of gossip or figuring out what was wrong when all we really need to do right now is figure out how do we just get accomplished what we have to get accomplished?” That’s why I was saying I want to be left out of this, everybody. “Mommy, Daddy, stop fighting and let me just do the work!,” you know. [Laughs]

Did you listen to any of what he had already written?

I was like, “No, I don’t want to. I want nothing, nothing. Let’s just do it.” … I’ve been excited to see this movie very much for the past year or so. And I thought, “Oh wow, Alexandre will probably do a really cool score for that.” And I was honestly looking forward to just seeing that and [hearing] whatever he did. I had never – not even an idea – that I would ever be involved in it. It all happened so fast.

The above bolded plus having some knowledge of the Hollywood music industry and how un-salvageable a score must be for a studio to fire a composer instead of bringing in other people to re-work the score, plus how late it was in post-production when Giacchino was hired all lead me to believe beyond any doubt (again read the interview) that music was at minimum written and mocked up. I say mocked up because producers and directors don't reject scores based on looking at sheet music. They listen to the mock-ups.

 

[notjackbauer]

Now youve got three users already believing that there is a rejected score floating around out there based on nothing but tales from my ass (unless there is something new I'm not aware of.

I guess you're right. I'm just assuming "scheduling conflicts" means they were unhappy and fired him. But that's a baseless claim. At any rate, it's a shame that it happened with just four weeks remaining. Any composer should've had more than four weeks, that's ridiculous.

 

[CloudyTuba]

Chill, I'm not implying anything about Desplat's talent or score that isn't already common knowledge, here's what Giacchino himself had to say about it to Entertainment Weekly:

Just read between the lines on that.

Sorry the beginning part of my message was in jest which may not have come across in text, but I do think it's important to state theories as theories and to be careful with throwing ideas around for a bunch of people to suddenly pick up as fact. We know some shit went down behind the scenes of the movie but the details of it are not solid. This is how tabloids happen.

I guess you're right. I'm just assuming "scheduling conflicts" means they were unhappy and fired him. But that's a baseless claim. At any rate, it's a shame that it happened with just four weeks remaining. Any composer should've had more than four weeks, that's ridiculous.

It's safe to assume something happened but not safe to say exactly what, that's all I'm sayin. I think it's weird when people decide they've got the True Hollywood Story™ because they read a single vague quote on the internet. They may very well be right, but that doesnt mean theyre not jumping the gun here regardless.

I was telling my buddy how if I were in Michael's position to score a Star Wars movie in less than a month I'd have a heart attack and then my heart attack would have a heart attack.
Even though I was underwhelmed as a whole by the score, there are still a couple tracks I'm in love with.

 

[Mashing]

EVERY Darth Vader scene was expertly shot. I especially loved the cinematography when Vader meets with Krennic and his huge, looming shadow is the first thing you see of him.

First thought when I saw this was: this is going to be my wallpaper for a long fucking time. Now if I can just find a 4k shot of it.

 

[Afrocious]

I agree with everything in the RLM review.

 

[Prof. Bathtub]

I guess you're right. I'm just assuming "scheduling conflicts" means they were unhappy and fired him. But that's a baseless claim. At any rate, it's a shame that it happened with just four weeks remaining. Any composer should've had more than four weeks, that's ridiculous.

Chinatown was composed and recorded in 10 days. It can work out, though obviously more time is beneficial.

 

[GAMEPROFF]

han isn't really all that great in ANH

TESB tho...

Nah

 

[CrichtonKicks]

John Williams is still bringing his A game and he's gonna live forever so we're covered.

He just started recording for Episode 8 this month. Seems they are doing really good on schedule.

 

[OriginofHysteria]

Man, when the most evil person in the galaxy goes "wtf you blew up a city??"

you fucked up.

 

[Bronx-Man]

I'm not dealing with RLM after that godawful Plinkett TFA review.

 

[Afrocious]

I just realized Ep 8 is going to go into uncharted waters.

The creativity of the SW cinematic universe hinges on Ep 8.

 

[SuperStiltzkin]

I'm not dealing with RLM after that godawful Plinkett TFA review.

I'm not really into their review format. Feels like the scripted jokes butt in too much. It's like MST3K if the skits in between breaks made up 50% of the show. I think Doubletoasted does a better job of balancing doing in depth critiques while being funny. (And I'm not just saying that because they gave Rogue One a glowing review. Plenty of their reviews I disagree with heavily.)

 

[Afrocious]

I'm not really into their review format. Feels like the scripted jokes butt in too much. It's like MST3K if the skits in between breaks made up 50% of the show. I think Doubletoasted does a better job of balancing doing in depth critiques while being funny. (And I'm not just saying that because they gave Rogue One a glowing review. Plenty of their reviews I disagree with heavily.)

Have you watched RLM "Half in the Bag" reviews? They typically only have skits in the beginning and ending.

Here's their Rogue One review: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Kc2kFk5M9x4

 

[Ragnorok64]

I just realized Ep 8 is going to go into uncharted waters.

The creativity of the SW cinematic universe hinges on Ep 8.

Not sure about that. Even if it sucks the franchise is insanely profitable so Disney will keep churning out movies. Some of those are bound to be good even in a worst cases scenario.

 

[Burt]

I just realized Ep 8 is going to go into uncharted waters.

The creativity of the SW cinematic universe hinges on Ep 8.

Pretty much. I'm not in love with TFA (just post Starkiller base introduction, really), but I understand the studio's need to just make a "good" Star Wars film to show that they could. But now that they've done that with TFA, and exceeded it with Rogue One, the question is if they're going to actually go into those uncharted waters or follow the recursive format of TFA - whether they're happy just to do something well, or willing to go out and do something new.

I think Rogue One has shown that the worst case scenario is that the main saga plays it safe and they leave experimentation to the spin-offs, which all in all, isn't that bad of a worst case scenario.

 

[George Oscar Bluth II]

I'm not dealing with RLM after that godawful Plinkett TFA review.

That one actually made me fall asleep like 30 minutes in.

 

[PalaceBrother]

Am I wrong for thinking it was incredibly cheesy?

As others have said, the Vader/Krenic scene was totally out of place and that dialog was....ugh....there were five or six instances during the film that I winced at the hokey lines.

I also felt that the cameos were really forced. Cantina Bum Face dude is one thing, but so many of the others felt unnecessary. I think they did themselves a disservice by so heavily featuring human CGI characters - I'm surprised they did it as they surely must know that shit ages terribly. Had they just shown Moff from behind I'd have totally bought it....and that "hope" line at the end. Brutal.

It was great to see the Emperor's Royal Guardsmen even if only for a moment. I loved every scene that featured Imperial troopers twiddling knobs and adjusting levers...the entire 70s vibe was captured spectacularly.

The first time they get into the U-Wing I swear I saw a ship that looked like the Ghost from Rebels on the ground.

 

[Sinatar]

Has there been any discussion on how completely and utterly horrid Forest Whitaker was in this? Why didn't the director, one of his co-stars or someone on the set take him aside and be like "Hey man, that voice you're doing? Maybe don't."

I had to cover my mouth in the theater because I was cracking up any time he talked. I normally love Whitaker too, he's a great actor.

 

[Dreams-Visions]

Not sure about that. Even if it sucks the franchise is insanely profitable so Disney will keep churning out movies. Some of those are bound to be good even in a worst cases scenario.

It won't suck. Way too much talent involved in the director and writer chairs, we already know the actors are great, and Disney won't let it suck anyway.

Has there been any discussion on how completely and utterly horrid Forest Whitaker was in this? Why didn't the director, one of his co-stars or someone on the set take him aside and be like "Hey man, that voice you're doing? Maybe don't."

I had to cover my mouth in the theater because I was cracking up any time he talked. I normally love Whitaker too, he's a great actor.

I can't say I had any problem at all with hobo Whitaker. I thought his voice was an adequate reflection of the shit he's been through and the breathing apparatus he was dependent on. YMMV.

 

[brandonh83]

Jesus

We've been through it all.

Yeah. Yes we sure have.

 

[Afrocious]

Pretty much. I'm not in love with TFA (just post Starkiller base introduction, really), but I understand the studio's need to just make a "good" Star Wars film to show that they could. But now that they've done that with TFA, and exceeded it with Rogue One, the question is if they're going to actually go into those uncharted waters or follow the recursive format of TFA - whether they're happy just to do something well, or willing to go out and do something new.

I think Rogue One has shown that the worst case scenario is that the main saga plays it safe and they leave experimentation to the spin-offs, which all in all, isn't that bad of a worst case scenario.

As someone who's in the camp that TFA is a better movie than RO's lifelessness, I think RO shows the worst case scenario in a different way: I think RO showed that LucasFilm tried experimenting with a darker SW tale that's too incongruent with the tone of the OT, which provided an experience lacking creativity and enthusiasm.

 

[sphagnum]

Has there been any discussion on how completely and utterly horrid Forest Whitaker was in this? Why didn't the director, one of his co-stars or someone on the set take him aside and be like "Hey man, that voice you're doing? Maybe don't."

He was fine. He came off as loopy because he'd been ground down by 20+ years of endless conflict.

The first time they get into the U-Wing I swear I saw a ship that looked like the Ghost from Rebels on the ground.

The Ghost appears a few times in the movie.

 

[theCalamity]

Cassian is a better character than Han Solo was in A New Hope.

How is Cassian a better character than Han Solo?

 

[The One and Done™]

You know Ellie, this really is a new hope.

 

[JeffZero]

You know Ellie, this really is a new hope.

"The first movie's theme was hope, but for the sequel, it's despair."

-Director Neil Druckmann, "The Empire Strikes Back"

 

[Stiflers Mom]

Vader wrecking fools was the best thing to come outta this movie. I wanted a movie focusing on Vader, but then I remembered they gave us Ep 1-3 for it.

For me "UHHSUM FORCE POWARZ VADER" was the worst thing about the whole movie.

Stupid fan service for prequel lovers, and has nothing to do with the way Vader was depicted in ANH, TESB or ROTJ.

The scene on that lava planet ("Mustafar"? Why'd you want to stay at the place where you got crippled?) was also just cringy.

Rogue One would be a better movie without these scenes.

 

[Bronx-Man]

How is Cassian a better character than Han Solo?

Han never killed anyone, Greedo shot first.

 

[Ishida]

Stupid fan service for prequel lovers, and has nothing to do with the way Vader was depicted in ANH, TESB or ROTJ.

It was about damn time! After TFA was stupid fan service for OT lovers. We all get a piece of it.

Also Vader was far better and more intimidating here than in the entire Episode IV.

 

[GAMEPROFF]

The scene on that lava planet ("Mustafar"? Why'd you want to stay at the place where you got crippled?) was also just cringy.

I am sure at your job you tell your boss where you want to be located and not the other way around.

 

[sphagnum]

The scene on that lava planet ("Mustafar"? Why'd you want to stay at the place where you got crippled?) was also just cringy.

Palpatine makes him live there to keep him angry.

 

[mrkgoo]

It was about damn time! After TFA was stupid fan service for OT lovers. We all get a piece of it.

Also Vader was far better and more intimidating here than in the entire Episode IV.

I actually felt he was totally in line with Episodes4-6.

 

[Ishida]

I actually felt he was totally in line with Episodes4-6.

I think Vader got darker and more menacing in Episode V, since Tarkin was basically the main villain in IV. But that's just me.